Hemodynamic effects in patients with atrial fibrillation submitted to electrical cardioversion.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) with persistent tachycardia can have a negative impact on left ventricular (LV) function. The rate-control of this arrhythmia may reverse tachycardia-mediated ventricular dysfunction [1]. Previous studies have shown that, when the ventricular rhythm is regular by means of ablate and pace, cardiac output (CO) appears to be higher [2] but this increase has never been demonstrated after electrical cardioversion (ECV) and restoration of sinus rhythm. The aim of our study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes acutely determined by ECV in AF-patients using a minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring system (Pressure Recording Analytical Method-PRAM) [3].